Can the spouse apply outside her country of origin?

[johnnycage]

For a spouse applying for a permanent resident visa, it is possible for her to apply outside her country of origin to save time? For example, if she is from Thailand, then the application will be sent to Singapore which has a processing time of 28 months. However, in Hong Kong they have a processing time of 9 months. Can she go to Hong Kong and give her application there?

 

[Betina]

For a spouse applying for a permanent resident visa, it is possible for her to apply outside her country of origin to save time? For example, if she is from Thailand, then the application will be sent to Singapore which has a processing time of 28 months. However, in Hong Kong they have a processing time of 9 months. Can she go to Hong Kong and give her application there?

No matter where the applicant is in the world, the file will have to be sent to CPC Mississauga. So she doesn't have to go anywhere, the sponsor is the one that has to send in the file to Mississauga.

From what I remember, the applicant can chose another VO than the one in the country of origin but, if the applicant doesn't have residency in the VO's country, there is no guarantee that CIC will sent the file there. The VO has to be able to asses the applicants situation and relationship, with all the local customs and official papers, so CIC choses the one that can do that better.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

For a spouse applying for a permanent resident visa, it is possible for her to apply outside her country of origin to save time? For example, if she is from Thailand, then the application will be sent to Singapore which has a processing time of 28 months. However, in Hong Kong they have a processing time of 9 months. Can she go to Hong Kong and give her application there?

A person can apply through the country of nationality or the country of residence, provided s/he has been legally admitted to that country for at least a year.

If your wife doesn't reside in Hong Kong with a visa valid for at least a year, she cannot apply through there.

 

[johnnycage]

Thanks a lot guys for the information!

 

[scrls5]

Please keep in mind that is also up to the discretion of CIC to determine where the application should go, I reside in a country different than my nationality (for over a year) and CIC decided to forward my case to my country of nationality (same processing time, so it was ok with me!)